Air-navigating vessel



H. C WOERZ.

AIR NAVIGATING VESSEL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-18,!9l9.

Patented May 18, 1920.

2 SHtE1SSHEET 1- I El \WEN K '[D HEN? Um. \Jnazz H \s Arrmlay 9 MM. fia hl H. C. WOERZ.

AIR NAVIGATING VESSEL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-18,1919- 1,340,309. Patented 18, 1920.

2 SH SHEET 2.

HENRY 01m. wonnz, on NEW YORK, N. r.

AIR-NAVIGATING VESSEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1'8, 19%.

Application filed. September 18, 1919. Serial No. 324,449.

To all 107mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, HnxnY CHR. Wonnz, citizen of the Republic of Germany, and resident of city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Navigating Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for flying and the object of said improvement is to provide means by which the resistance of the air is reduced in such way and manner so as to allow a considerable increase in speed without going to a proportionate increase in power to drive the flying machines.

My invention is applicable to the lighter than air as well as to the heavier than air machines, at least partly to the latter type.

It is well known that the limits in speed to which flying machines are confined are due to the resistance to the rapidly moving air displaced by the-carrying body and to its friction on the surface of the carrying body. This resistance is amenable to reduction and it is here'where the essence-of my invention comes in. All attempts at the attainment of higher speeds have hitherto consisted mostly in improvements in the means of propulsion and in the form of the carrying body, in attempts to lighten the vessel .and its contents in proportion to its size and power, etc, with a view to reduce the resistance one has tried to render the material of the planes as smoothly as possible, but there are as yet no mechanical means to accomplish this particular end.

My invention relates to the increase of speed in aerial navigation by reducing the resistance by mechanical means. The nature of .my invention will be fully understood from the description given below and from the drawings forming part of this description.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of .an airship equipped with my invention, Fig. 2 is a side elevation and Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view along line 1--1 of Fig. 2. Figs. 4, .5, 6, and 7 show special details as explained below.

Like numerals refer to like parts in the several figures.

From Fig. 3 it is obvious that the air-ship has an eight-corner carrying body, which latter, as well as the head, has its planes covered with a special device.

the right side of the head.

The air-ship is provided with propellers 1 and 2 at the head and propellers 3 and .4: at

the sides, respectively. The head is consisters are preferably made of a steel axle of moderate diameter, a wooden cylinder surrounding that part of each axle which is located between the upper-and lower brackets holding the axle. At the head skeleton there are six rollers provided, for instance 8, 8 and 8 on the left and 8 8 and 8 on It is a matter of course that eachaxle is well provided witha suitable collar at the inside of each bracket to avoid a serious mishap which might be caused if an axle slips out of a journal.

An endless band 9 of canvas or other suitable material, is laid around the rollers 8, 8 and 8, and band 9 on the other side around the rollers 8, 8 and 8 (see Fig. 7). It is dependent upon the size of the surface, how wide, or high this endless band of canvas will be; in the majority of cases, as for instance in the case of an air-ship 0f the Zeppelin-type here illustrated, one will have to subdivide the hands into a plurality of endless bands; from Figs. 2 and 4 it is obvious that bands 9 and 9 are subdivided into three endless bands, each of same being held in its proper place by guiding rings 10 (Fig. 2). To these bands 9 and 9" there are vanes or fins 11 (see Fig. 6)., made of same material as bands and putover a light frame, preferably of rectangular shape though of relatively moderate width, hingedly connected thereto; it is a particular feature of the hinged connection of these vanes 11 with the bands 9 that the vanes stand in an angle of approximately 90 degrees to said bands 9 while said vanes are moving on the outside with the wind,-

for instance while they are moving on the outside from roller 8 toward 8, but that their hinged connection with the bands 9 will automatically allow them to drop down to lean close to said band 9 while moving inside the structure from roller 8 to .8 and to then automatically be erected again to 90 degrees by the resistance of the air as soon as they turn around roller S in the direction toward 8 This automatic action of the vanes 11 will be understood by inspecting Figs. 5, 6, and, 7 from which it is seen that each vane 11 is secured to the endless band 9 in such way that it, when en gaged by the wind, will strike with its rear against arm 13 of the hinge, whereby an upright position of vane 11 is guaranteed while moving against the wind on the way from roller S to roller 8, whereas it will lean almost parallel to endless band 9 while moving on the inside from roller 8 The endess bands 9 rotate during the flight of the ship either automatically owing to the resistance of the wind acting on the surface of the endless bands, or motion may be imparted to them in any of the well known ways, for instance by having a sprocket wheel attached to the lower end of axles 8 and 8, an endless chain connecting each of said sprocket wheels with another such sprocket wheel (not shown) properly mounted in working connection upon and with shaft 12. driving the front-propellers 1 and 2. y

All that is said relating to the endless band 9 holds likewise good of band 9 and the many endless bands 9 as far as their construction and operation is concerned; as to their location it is obvious that the bands 9 and 9 diverge from the head of the structural frame, whereas bands 9 surround the body of the air-ship all over with the exception of the stern and those parts of the surface which cannot be covered as otherwise the field of vision would be blocked. It is an absolute necessity for the operator of the air-ship to have a free field of vision, from the cabin which is attached to the bot tom of the air-ship; the endless bands can therefore be dispensed with at the bottom part, and also for the further reason that in case of an air-ship of the Zeppelin type it would largely act as a sustaining plane which is superfluous in this particular case, but an endless band 9 (the corresponding band on the other side is not shown), being in all details like 9 and 9 is provided at the head of the cabin and just in the same way secured thereto.

Above references to bands 9 and 9 explain in themselves all that is necessary for the understanding of the construction of said bands 9. The endless band upon each flat part of the eight cornered carrying body of the ship is subdivided in three endless bands of substantially the same length.

This subdivision is desirable in view of the various influences the weather may exert upon the hands; if the latter are too long the wind may sag too much in the cloth thereby preventing the proper rotation of the bands. Moreover, it is very desirable to relieve the ships of the burden which foreign matter out of the air, for instance snow, may impose upon it. Owing to the great speed of the bands carrying the vanes, snow is flung off at the end of each band to the adjoining one until it is ultimately cast off the ship. It is not'absolutely necessary, but, for convenience sake, the bands upon the body of the ship may be mounted in a slightly inclined position so that the rear end of each preceding band is overlapping the front end of the following band to safely drop the snow on the latter. Though rain falling on a ship not provided with my invention is not quite such a disturbing factor as snow because the water can run off the body, nevertheless it is likewise caught and thrown off by the bands. This fact shows to great advantage in case of a mixture of snow and rain, which like snow sticks most tenaciously to surfaces and is a great hindrance to the ship owing to the combined weight of the snow and water as well as on account of the friction it causes between its surfaces and the wind. This trouble is entirely overcome as the wet snow is continuously flung off at the end of each band whereby the accumulation of wet snow is practically avoided. The operation of the bands on the body proper can be managed by imparting motion to them from the motor driving shaft 12, or from some kind of countershafting connected upon and with said shaft 12.

The brackets in which the wooden rollers 8, around which the bands 9 are rotating, are secured in this case directly upon the body of the carrying body, the lubricatingof all rotating parts being performed in any of the well known ways, for instance by pi'imping the oil to and into the journals through narrow tubes from a central supply tank. endless bands, at the head and the body proper, have the twofold purpose of reduc ing the usual friction with the wind and of relieving it of any weight, and the unusual friction in connection therewith, which may be imposed upon the airship by atmospheric conditions. I feel inclined to state, however, that the merits of the endless bands at the head of the structure are the predominant feature for the manageability and sailing capacity of the ship as the reduction of theresistance achieved by the bands at the head overcome a very disturbing factor which is always present and submits the ship to the greatest strain so far as resistance by the air is concerned. As the atmospheric conditions are only in wintertime such as to make the full outfit necessary the operator may provide the airship in summertime with the endless bands at the head only and may ld the other bands in the winter. It is furthermore obvious from the foregoing that From the above it is obvious that the my new invention is not only applicable to air-ships shown in the above description, but it can alsobeapplied to any of the various types of aeroplanes in practically the same way as it is shown at the headof the ship proper as well as at the head of the cabin.

The operation of my invention is easily understood from the foregoing. As soon as the ship is made ready for itstrip with all the precautions the power generating motor is started and .as soon as the ship rises against the wind it is automatically imparting motion to the endless bands, onaccount of the fact especially that the wind is acting on the front side of the vanes or fins 11 so that they almost immediately stand up vertically to the plane of the endless band and retain this position as long as they move on the outside surface toward the wind. As soon as for instance a vane is turning around roll 8 to the inside of the structure each vane will fling out automatically, or occasionally some help can'be given by some obstruction against which the vane will strike to accelerate thereby its dropping down, and lean then with its front side toward the cloth of the endless band proper. It is obvious that the wind is caught by the vanes, and that the gliding movement of the band and the sudden release of the wind in the moment each vane is dropping counteract the vehemence and therefore the resistance of the wind, whereby the ship itself is greatly relieved of the disturbing influence of the resistance of the air. As this relief is obtained over almost all the surface of the carrying body of the ship it is obvious that the advantage obtained thereby is great and important for the success of the speed and sci-ailing capacity of the ship. In case the relatively small amount of power necessary to do so is available, then this advantage may be considerably increased by imparting motion to the various rollers by which a rotation of the outside of the bands in the direction of the wind may be obtained. In case the air is quiet and the air-ship flies then the endless bands will rotate with substantially the speed the air-ship receives by the power of its motor but if the wind is strong, or, if besides the wind motive power is brought to act on the endless bands, then their speed is approximately the sum of the speed of the ship plus that received by the action of the wind or direct motive power applied to the rollers carrying the endless bands.

Having now described the nature of my invention I beg to state that the above illustration of same is given by way of example only; the essential elementary mechanisms and parts, co-dependent upon the machine herein illustrated, are capable of employment in conjunction with other types of flymachines, and the invention is therefore not confined to the specific structures illustrated in the specification and drawings.

Finally I beg to state that whenever I speak of a carrying body I wish to include any-structural frame or other structural work surrounding the gas-bag of an air navigating vessel, for instance such as a dirigible air-ship, including in said eX- pression also the cabin, or cabins, attached to aforesaid structural frame, and extend this expression, as far as heavier than airmachincs are concerned, only to the gondola of such machine and not to the planes sustaining it.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with an air navigating vessel, of rotary means, secured to the carrying bodyand capable of engaging endless bands, a plurality of endless bands upon aforesaid rotary means, means, hingedly connected to said endless bands, adapted to be automatically actuated by the wind to impart motion to said endless bands.

2. The combination with an air navigating vessel, of rotary means secured to the carrying body and capable of engaging endless bands, a plurality of endless bands upon aforesaid rotary means, means, hingedly connected to said endless bands, automatically erecting when engaged by the wind thereby imparting motion to the endless bands and automatically dropping when releasing the wind.

3. The combination with an air navigating vessel, of means secured to the carrying body adapted to hold a plurality of means adapted to rotate and to engage endless bands, a plurality of endless bands of suitable material provided upon said rotary means, means, hingedly connected to said endless bands, adapted to be automatically actuated by the Wind to cause the endless bands to travel at a speed greater than that of the flying machine.

4. The combination with an air navigating vessel, of a structural frame secured to the carrying body of said vessel and adapted to hold rotary means, a plurality of such means rotarily connected with aforesaid frame and adapted to engage endless bands, a plurality of endless bands upon said rotary means and diverging from the head of the structural frame, means hingedly connected to each of said endless bands adapted to erect automatically when engaged by the wind thereby imparting motion to said endless bands and to automatically release the wlnd.

5. The combination with an air navigating vessel, of a structural frame secured to the carrying body of said machine andl adapted to hold rotary means, a plurality of means rotarily connected with aforesaid frame and adapted to engage endless bands, a plurality of endless bands provided upon aforesaid rotary means, said endless bands covering all surfaces of the carrying body exposed to the resistance of the wind and dispensable for the field of vision, means, hingedly connected to said endless bands, adapted to erect automatically when engaged by the wind, thereby imparting motion to said endless bands, and to automatically drop to release the wind.

6. In an air navigating vessel, the device for reducing the friction with the wind consisting in a plurality of endless bands gliding upon rotary means, vanes being hingedly connected to each of said endless bands, said vanes erecting automatically when engaged by the wind, thereby imparting motion to said endless bands, and automatically dropping to release the wind.

7. In an air navigating vessel, the device for reducing the friction with the air and for removing any matter foreign to and accumulating out of the air upon the vessel, said device consisting in a plurality of endless bands moving upon rotary means, vanes liingedly connected to each of said endless bands, said vanes erecting automatically, when engaged by the wind thereby imparting motion to said endless bands, and flinging around the rear end of the endless band to automatically drop into a position substantially parallel to the endless band.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of N. Y., this 16th day of Sept, A. D. 1919.

HENRY CHE. lVOER-Z.

lVitness ALBERT SoHLIENz. 

